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Chacaltaya travel pictures

Chacaltaya, the easiest mountain around La Paz

Around 30 kilometers outside of La Paz is the mountain Chacaltaya located. A trip to this peak is highly recommended as you get to see some amazing scenery of the Cordillera Real mountain range in Bolivia.

When driving out of La Paz it also offers a birds eye view over La Paz and see how this city has grown between the mountains and the steep slopes it occupies. The first drive is through what appears to be endless flat fields that are still in their natural state. But suddenly the Cordillera Real appears with its snow capped mountains. One of the mountains that stands out is Huayna Potosi which is the highest mountain close to La Paz. It is clearly recognizable as the peak that dominates the scenery. After driving further the ascent up the mountain starts. This drive is not for the faint hearten as the road is rather narrow and you will be sitting next to a cliff. If you are afraid of heights it might be best not to sit next to the window on the cliff side as you will be looking straight down. The zig-zag road goes on for long time and after many bends and curves the bus arrives at the ski resort. The glacier has melted and apart from a few patches there is hardly snow anymore, although it is possible to spot a few patches of ice. From here on it is a short walk to the top.

At an altitude of 5400 meter above sea level the level of oxygen is considerably lower and if you haven't acclimatized you will notice the thin air. But if you catch your breath regularly and go at an easy pace, it is a walk that everyone can do. The path to the top is easy to follow. When arriving at the top there is some stunning scenery and the view expands towards each side of the mountain which all have a different appearance. The views are amazing and it is possible to see Huayna Potosi, several awkward rock formations, the bendy road that the bus drove up and some lakes in the valley which have different colors. Once many pictures of the landscape from the top have been taken, just follow the same way back. What makes Chacaltaya incredible is that the scenery along the track is constantly changing and if simply by looking in a different direction the mountain scenery changes its look.

The day trip to Chacaltaya is best booked through a tour operator in La Paz. It is one of the most popular day trips and it is offered by all of them. Most likely it is a combination with a visit to the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna). Many hotels can book this tour as well. Because of the altitude, it can be considerably colder on the top of the mountain so it is worth to bring an extra jacket and enough water to prevent dehydration. The best time to visit is between April and October. These are the winter months, but they are also considerably dryer.